Rotary steam-engine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' s. SMITH. ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

(Nc Modem" L aaneensheet SE. SMITH.

Y EoflAEY STEAM ENGINE.

No. 453,247. PatenteJueQ., 1.89.1.

vzrsns cm, Morogumo., wnsnmonm u c 3 Sheets-Sheet;v 3.

(NoMoael.) y'

S. SMITH. EOTAEY STEAM ENGINE.

vllatentedl June 2, 1891.

m WW l r r UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL SMITH, OF OHIOAGO, ILLINOIS.a

ROTARY STEAM-ENGIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming para of Letters Patent No. 453,247, dated rune 2, 1891. Application filed March 13I 18291.l Serial No. 384,881. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

. Be it known that I, SAMUEL SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, 1n the' county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Steam-Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexeddrawings, making a part of this specification, and to the/letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in rotary stam-engines; and it has for its objects, among others, to provide an improved device of this character wherein the cylinder tted with piston-hub forms three immovable sides of the steamspace, the piston forming the fourth side, re-

ceiving the effects of the introduction and e'xpansion of the steam. I so arrange the cylinder and piston plate and hub that the cylinder acts as a guide, impartingto the piston a reciprocating motion by the revolution ofthe hub. I provide steam-ports in the piston-hub in such relation to an opening in the packingplate that the steam-supply is reduced to a controlled part or fraction of a revolution of the piston. I provide for the controlling of the steam-supply by the force of the exhauststeam ejected through the exhaust-chamber.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in Which- Figure l is a front elevation of my improved rotary engine with the steam-pipe broken away and the shaft in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same, taken at right angles to the steam-pipe. 'Fig. 3 is a view looking at the reverse side of Fig. l with the end plate removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through Fig. l at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on the line w x of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line y y of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 isaperspective viewr of the piston hub and plate removed. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail, which will be more particularly hereinafter referred to.

Like letters ofreference indicate like parts throughout the several views in which they occur.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates flanged basepieces, to which are bolted the disks or end plates A', which are made in one or two parts and to which are secured the central 6o end disks A2, which are provided with bearings ct for the shaft and are preferably detachable for the purpose of affording ready access for the purpose of repairs or examination.

The cylinder B is composed of the sides B and the plate B2, secured to the sides and forming the outer side or periphery. It is provided with an exhaust-opening b and a packing-box b', as seen in Fig. 4.

The shaft O is made in two parts, with flanges @,bolted to and forming the outside of the piston-hub C as seen clearly in Fig. 2. f One of the flanges has openings or steamports O2, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4, also a groove 75 o2 to receive a steam-tight plate E, as seen in Fig. 2, and also a seatfor the packing-ring c4, which is fitted steam-tight thereto and held `against the disk A2 by springs c5, as seen in 2. The opposite flange is shaped to re- 8o ceive a packing-ring c6, which is held against the piston-hub in the same manner, this packing-ring being beveled, as shown, the shape causing equal wear on the face and sides.

The piston-hub C is formed in two like parts, as seen in Fig. 4, each provided with` a steam-port C2 and with a space between for the piston-plate D, which consists of a plate with packing-strips d on the ends and sides.

It may also be provided withinterchangeable 9c strips, if desired. This plate is movable in the hub, as will hereinafter appear. At one end of the hub is a circular-shaped plate E, with an opening E and a groove e for the iiange of the valve F, and is held steam-tight on the side of the piston-hub by rods and springs e or any other suitable means.

Steam and exhaust chambers are formed by the Walls G, bolted to the parts A and B2. In the exhaust-chamber is fixed a plate G', roo with spring G2, fixed on the shaft G3, one end of which is extended into the steam-chamber and is made steam-tight by the stuffing-box G4. In the steam-chamber it is provided with and carries an arm il, connected to the valve F by the rod g. The said valve is a curved plate with side flanges, as shown best in Fig. 7, and an abutment g on its lower side, and on top it is provided with a lug g2 for the said rod. The other end of thel shaft G3 is extended through the outside disk, where it is provided with an index-hand g4, showing on a scale g5 the exact position of the valve and the amount of steam-supply.

Il is a curved bar located in a recess in the plate B2 and by means of springs held steamtight against the piston-hub. Its shape prevents the piston-plate from resting on it alone in passing. The recess 7L brings the steampressure on the side of the bar, so it will not be forced down.

I is a drip for the condensed \vater,and it terminates in a valve t.

J and J are drips for the steam and cxhaust chambers.

K is a thin plate fastened to the ends and surrounding the cylinder, steam, and exhaust chambers.

The steam-space in the cylinder is determined by the difference between the dialnetcr of the piston-hub and the length of the piston-plate, which also governs the shape of the cylinder. The plate B2 is on any point an equal distance from the opposite side through center of the piston-hub, the distance being the length of the piston-plate.

Various modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

The operation is as follows: Steam is admitted through the steam-pipe L in the ordinary way and escapes into the steam-chamber surrounded by the disk A2, part of the flange of the piston-hub, and the packingplate and packing-ring. Supposing the piston-hub to stand in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4, steam will pass through the opening E in the plate E and escape through the steam-port in the piston-hub terminating in the opening C3, as seen in Fig. 7, and into the cylinder behind the pistonplate, which it will cause to revolve. The steam will continue to rush in till the pistonplate is in the position shown at IV in Fig. 3, and now the port is past the opening E and the supply is cut off. The expansion of the the steam admitted will continue to revolve the piston till it reaches the position in which it is shown at Z in Fig. S,when the hub and the other end of the plate are in the first position, and steam is admitted through the port and the cut-off and expansion repeated. The expanded steam is driven in front of the piston-plate through the exhaust-opening b into the exhaust-chamber, Where it strikes the plate G', raised by its spring G2. Supposing the exhaust-steam has sufficient force to drive the plate down to a vertical position, it will thus, by the aid of the shaft G3, arm G5, and

rod g, move the valve F so as to close the opening E', or nearly so, thus reducing the steam-opening to a small fraction of its normal size and admitting a corresponding amount of steam only, at the same time cutting off the steam at V in Fig. 3. Vhen the speed diminishes, either by adding to the load or by change of steam-pressu re, the plate will immediately be raised and the valve opened. It is apparent that this arrangementand construction of parts will control the speed of the engine with changeable load, making it perfectly automatic in consumption of steam.

At 0,1 have shown a pipe and at I a valve in said pipe, which pipe connects the steamspace and the cylinder, to be used when the engine is at rest, and the piston-plate being in a posi "on between NV and Z, the valve being then opened and steam enough admitted to turn the engine over. The pressure on the piston-plate is continuons, as the moment the steam has lost its force on one end it is exerted against the other, making it independent of momentum for any part of the revolution. Steam is introduced absolutely at the same position of piston-plate, no matter what the speed of" pressure, and into the smallest possible space, con sequ entlyretainin g its most compressed state, and as the volume increases the piston-plate gradually presents more of its face for reception of the pressure. The steam-space may be made larger or smaller to conform with the desired speed by making the piston-hub largeror smaller in proportion to the cylinder.

The engine has few moving parts and consequent small amount of friction. The Wearing parts are interchangeable.

lVhat I claim as new is- 1. In a rotary engine,the combinatiomwith the cylinder having exhaust-opening, of the hinged plate for closing said opening, the shaft to which the plate is attached, and an index and scale for indicating the position of the valve, as set forth.

2. In a rotary engine, the combinatiomwith the piston-hub, the cylinder having exhaustopening, and the valve on the piston-hub, of the hinged plate closing the exhaust-opening, its shaft, and pivotal connections between the shaft and valve, substantially as specified.

In a rotary engine, the combination, with the cylinder having exhaust-opening, the rotary piston-head, and its plate, of the curved valve on the piston-hub closin ga port therein, the hinged plate for closing the exhaust-opening, the shaft on which it is hinged, and the arm and rod pivotally connecting the shaft and valve, substantially as specified.

et. In a rotary engine, the combination ,with the piston-hub having steam-port and guidegroove, of the curved valve having a lug fitting the groove, the hinged plate for closing the exhaust-opening in the cylinder, the pivotal connections between the shaft on which IOC) IIO

the said plate is hinged and the Valve, and the spring acting on the plate to normally keep it to its seat, substantially as specified.v

5. In a'rotary engine, the co1nbnati0n,with the exhaust-chamber, of the valve sliding on and closinga port in the piston-hub7 and the hinged plate closing the exhaust-opening from the cylinder, whereby the steam-supplyis controlled by the force of the exhaust-steam ejected through the exhaust-chamber, substantially as specified.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination, with the cylinder and the piston-hub and its plate, of the Valve sliding on the piston-hub to close a port therein, the spring-actuated hinged plate for the exhaust-openin g in the cylinder,

the pivotal conn eetions between the plate and lValve, the drip I, and the curved bar H, with 

